Atomizer for internal-combustion engines.



L. B. HARRIS. I ATOMIZER FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES.-

APPLICATION FILED MAY 26, 1913.

1,171,787. Patented-Feb. 15,1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l- MMJh . L. B. HARRIS.

ATOMIZER FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED MAYZS, 191a.

1,171.787. f V PatentedFeb.'15,1916.

I 2 SHEETSSHEET 2- awbentoz 3% L aflio'omes I LEONARD B. HARRIS, OFWATERTOWN, YORK.

ATOMIZER FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Feb, 15, 1916.

Application filed May 26, 1913. a Serial No. 769,925.

To all whom it mag -concern:

Be it known that I, LEONARD B. HaRRIs,

a subject of the King of Great Britain, re-.

siding at \Vatertown, in the county of Jefferson and State of New York,have 1nvented new and useful Improvements in Atomizers forInternal-Combustion Engines, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention relates to certain new and useful improvements ininternal combustion engines operating on the Diesel principle and has todo more particularly with the atomizer parts of such engines.

As is well understood by those persons familiar with the constructionand operation ofengines working on the well known Diesel principle, thepracticabilityand efficiency of such engines depend largely on theconstruct-ion and operation ofthe atomizer through which the fuel-oil isfed. to the engine cylinder or cylinders, complete or perfect combustionbeing essential, to the highest efliciency, and to bring about such adegree of combustion it is of-the greatest importance that the'fuel-oilbe injected into the engine cylinder-or cylinders in the form of afinelydivided spray or mist.

One of the prime objects of the present invention is, therefore, toprovide an atomizer that will have what might be termed.

a pulverizing effect on the molecules of oil,

which, when acted upon by the highpressure air that drivesthe mixtureinto the engine cylinder, will cause said mixture to assume the form ofa fine spray or' mist, in

which, form it has the greatest efficiency since a more perfectcombustion results.

It is also well understood by those familiar with the-operation ofinternal combustion engines of the type herein referred to, that muchtrouble results from the atomizers burning out and also from stoppage orclogging, which troubles render the en-, gine inoperative; and-anotherobject of the present invention is to ob vi ate these troubles as far aspossible and to materially reduce the time and lessenthe'trouble'incident to making renewals or substitution of atomizerparts when renewals become necessary.

Another object of the invention is to provide means associated with theatomizer for preventing the oil from draining back out of the supplypipe leading to the atomizer during the periods of'inactivity of theatomizer valve, thus insuring feedm'g'of a full charge of fuel-oil I ateach stroke of the pump-plunger and maintaining a proper.

working charge 'in the atomizer at all times for startlng purposes,thereby obviating hand-pumping when initially starting the In ordertoenable others skilled in the art to understand, make and use my saidinvention I will now proceed to describe the same in detail, referencebeing had for this purpose to the accompanying drawing .Which isillustrative of a preferred embodiment thereof, and wherein Figure 1 isa vertical sectional view of the upper portion of an engine cylindershowing one of my improved atomizers in position therein, the view alsoshowing one construction of atomizer valve actuating mechanism. F1g. 21s a top plan view of the parts illustrated in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a sideelevation of the plug part of the atomizer, the view also showing myimproved trapped checkvalve associated with the atomizer, the trap beingshown in section. Fig. 4: is an elevation on an enlarged scale of theoil feed sleeve-portion of the atomizer. Fig. 5 is a transverse sectionof the sleeve portion taken on the line 5'-5 of Fig. 4. 6 is a bottomplan view of the atomizer sleeve. Fig. 7 is a front elevation of theatomizer valve.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 1 the reference numeral 1 designatesthe upper portion of the working or power cylinder of an internalcombustion engine-through the head 2 of which is formed a bore 3, the

lower end of which is contracted as at f,

cap having an outlet aperture 9 through which the fuel oil is injectedinto the engine cylinder as will be more fully hereinafter explained.The plug 6 is provided adjacent its lower end with an external conicalface 10, adapted to make a ground joint fitwith the conical seat 5, atthe base of the bole 3,

. and is provided at its upper end with a of less diameter than the bore3, so that when inserted therein there will be an annular space 14,around the same through which a cooling medium may be caused tocirculate to keep the atomizer parts from becoming overheated, when theengine is running. The plug 6 is provided at the lower end of its borewith an interiorly arranged conical wall 15, the lower portion of whichconstitutes aseat for the conical end of the atomizer valve 16, and theremainder of said wall constituting an abutment for the end of theatomizer cage or sleeve 17, presently to be described. The upper end ofthe bore of the plug is preferably. formed with a conical seat 18,against which a correspondinglyshaped projection 19 formed on the cageor sleeve 17 makes a ground joint connection. J

The atomizer cage or sleeve 17, is provided at or adjacent its lower endwith a head 20, that is of substantially the same diameter as thediameter of the bore of the plug 6, and said head fits closely in saidbore. The lower extremity 21 of the head is of conical form and seatsagainst the in-- terior conical wall 15 within the plug. The head isprovided. with a plurality of intersecting orcrossing grooves 22 formedin the peripheral wall thereof, said. grooves being inclined in oppositedirections and extending from the conical extremity 21 toward the upperend of the head, forming circuitous or interrupted oil passages, thegrooves in the present instance forming what is commonly known as adiamond screw separated by diamond shaped projections as more clearlyshown in Fig. 4. The conical extremity 21 of the head is provided withnarrow longitudinally extending slits or ways'23, that intersect withand form a continuation of. the said grooves 22, the said slits or waysserving to convey a plurality of fine streams of oil to the outletopening 9 in the plug, from-whence said streams emerge in the form of afine spray or mist, this being due to the fact that the oil in beingforced by high pressure air through the conflicting grooves 22, isthoroughly broken up or pulverized.

The sleeve or cage 17 for a portion of its length is of less diameterthan the bore in the plug 6, so as to provide an annular space orchamber 24, around. the same, said chamber having communication with theintersecting grooves 22. An oil passage 25, extends longitudinallythrough the plug 6, and enters the lower portion of the chamber 24, andpassage 26 for air under high pressure enters the chamber 24, at theupper end thereof, said high pressure air at all times acting upon thecharge of oil in the cham-' ber 24, and grooves 22. I also prefer toform a plurality of apertures 27, through the wall of the shell 17,leading from the annular chamber 24 into the bore of the shell in orderto feed a small quantity of air under pressure along with and inaddition to the oil passing through the conflicting grooves 22, in orderto aid in the combustion of the fuel fed to the, cylinder.

The upper end of the cage or shell 17 is provided with an attachingflange 28, through which bolts 29 pass for attaching the cage to theplug 6, and said upper end is also preferably provided with a gland. 30,and stufiing box 31, through which the stem 32 of the atomizer valve 16passes, said valve stem having a closed jaw or slot 33, at its upperend, through which the valve lifting lever or levers 34 pass, said leveror levers -exerting their lifting energy on hardened ated at regularintervals to lift the atomizer valve 16, from its seat. The leveroperating means in the instances shown comprises a.

rocker-arm 40, pivoted at 41, and having a roller 42, at its free end,said roller being acted upon by means of a cam 43, mounted upon the camshaft 44, said cam operating to rock the arm 40, at regular intervalsand through the connections now tobe described, lift the atomizer valve6. The rocker arm 40 is provided with a toe 45, against which a coiledspring 46, acts to normally hold its roller 42, in. contact with theactuating cam.

Pivotally connected to the free end of the valve actuating lever 34 is adepending rod 47 carrying a roller 48 at its lower end, said rollernormally lying above the pivotal point 41 of the rocker arm 40, whichmay be termed the idle or inactive position of the parts. The dependingrod 47 is mounted to swing so that the lower-end thereof carryingtheroller 48 may be adjusted backand forth over the upper face of therockerarm 40, or in other words adjusted back and forth or toward andfrom the pivotal. point'41 of the rocker arm. Obviously the further thefree end of the rod 47 is moved toward the outer end of the rocker arm40, the greater will be the lift of the rod 47, and consequently thegreater the lift of the atomizer valve 16. The roller .48 of the rod 47is normally held in contact with the upper face of the rocker arm 10 bymeans of a coiled spring 49 connected at its upper end to the rocker arm34:, and having its lower end connected toan adjustable pin 50, a thumbnut 51 being employed to adjust the tension of the spring,

2111 as more clearly shown in Fig. 1.

'The means for adjusting the position of the free end of the rod 47 uponthe face of the rocker arm 40' consists of a rock shaft 52 journaled ina bracket '53 carried by the engine cylinder, said rock shaft having acrank arm 54-provided with a sleeve 55 that has a sliding connectionwith the rod 47, and said rock shaft 52 is provided with another crankarm 56 with which a link 57 is connected, said link being jointed at itslower end to suitable operating mechanism connected to the control leverof the engine, all as more clearly shown in my co-pending applicationSerial No. 726,025. By imparting proper movements to the link 57 it willbe apparent that the free end of the rod 47 may be moved or adjusted andsetvto any desired position over the face of the rocker arm 40.

In the present instance I have shown only one valve operating lever andassociated actuating and setting or controlling devices,

such for instance as will be employed in a non-reversing or straightaway engine. Where the engine is of the reversing type, I propose toemploy two valve actuating levers 34: associated with each atomizervalve, and I also employtwo sets of actuating and controlling or settingmechanisms, one associated with each of the levers 34. When the two'sets of levers are employed either one or the other may be set foroperation de pending upon whether the engine is to be driven ahead orastern.

The operation of the atomizer and its associated parts as thus fardescribed is as follows: During the operation of the engine air at highpressure is maintained in the annular chamber 24 between the atomizersleeve or cage 17 and the plug 6, which annular chamber is incommunication through a suitable conduit with an air compressor or airreservoir not shown. At a certain time during the travel of the enginepistons, the fuel pumps of the engine inject a variable quantity of fueloil or other liquid fuel medium into the said annular chamber 24,whichlodges in the intersecting grooves 22 in the atomizer sleeve'orcage, in which grooves the fuel oil'remains until the atomizer valve 16is lifted from its seat by the action of the lever 34, and its actuating,mechanism above described. When the atomizer valve 16 is lifted fromits seat as before mentioned, the, high pressure air in the annularchamber 24 forces the fuel oil that is lodged in the intersecting orconflicting rooves 22 through said grooves with great orce, the actionof the'high pressure air upon the oil having a pulverizing effect Ont1161 molecules of oil which now pass through the narrow slits or ways 23in the end 'of the atomizer sleeve or shell and out through the aperture9 in the cap 8 entering the cylinder head in the form of a fine spray ormist.

Inasmuch as each charge of fuel oil, before being injected into theengine cylinder is lodged in the intersecting or conflicting grooves,immediately the atomizer valve 16 is lifted from its seat to admit oilinto the cylinder, the high pressure air acting upon the oil thoroughlybreaks up or pulverizes the same, thus putting the oil in the bestpossible condition for combustion when it enters the engine cylinders.

I have provided in association with the atomizer valve of an internalcombustion engine, means for preventing the oil leading from theoilpumping mechanism of the engine from draining back out of the at omizer"or the supply pipe leading to the atomizer during the periods ofinactivity of the atomizer valve, thus insuring a full charge of fueloil being fed at each stroke of the pump plunger and maintaining aproper working charge in the atomizer at all times for startingpurposes, and I have provided similar means associated with' theatomizer valve to overcome the 'danger of the fuel oil being forced outof the atomizer and into the air bottles or compressor. The

means referred to, as more clearly illustrated in Fig. 3, consists ofwhat might be generally termeda trapped check valve comprising a bodymember 58 having a 'bulb or pocket 59 in which is arranged abaffle-plate 60; said pocket and baffle plate constituting a trap, theoutlet passage 61 of which passes through an attaching nipple 62 andleads to the oil passage 25 inthe plug 6, the attaching nipple 62 of thetrapped valve having a threaded connection with the flange ofthe plug 6.The oil inlet pipe 63 leading from the oil pump is attached to the inletnipple 64 of the trap valve, the passage 65from the inlet nipple beingnormally held closedvby means of a. double check valve consisting in theinstance shown of two balls 66 and 67 of unequal size, and which ballsrest upon individual seats as shown, The larger ball valve 67 is heldnormally to its seat by means of a spring 68 acted upon by a threadedcap 69 screwed in an aperture formed in the body portion 58 as shown. Anidentically similar valve is-associated with the cpmpressed air'inletpassage 26.

In operation when the fuel oil is pumped through the pipe'63 and passage65 past. the ball valves 66 and 67 into the trap 59 on its way to theatomizer there will always be maintained in said trap a charge of fueloil which will be prevented, by reason of the check valves 66, 67 fromdraining back out the liquid seal. This, therefore, does away with thehand pumping necessary with other types of atomizers when. starting theengine. 4

The similarly arranged trap check associated with the compressed airsupply leading to the atomizer serves to prevent danger of oil fed tothe atomizer passing back into the air bottles or compressor, the checkvalves acting to prevent any back flow of oil as will be apparent.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description taken in connectionwith the drawings that my improved. atomizer parts may be readily andquickly attached to and removed from the cylinder head for purposes. ofcleaning, and for renewal of parts when necessary. The atomizer beingwater jacketed the oil stored therein is prevented from overheatingandas will be seen the cap '8 of the plug 6 that is exposed to thecombusting charges is made removable and replaceable.

So far as I am aware I am the first to as" sociate with the atomizervalve of an in ternal combustion engine chec'k valves or trap checks tomaintainat all. times a' charge 'of fuel oil in the atomizer,and toprevent fuel oil passing through the piping system into the air .bottle.

I. do not wish to beunderstood as limiting myself to the-preciseconstruction and arrangementof parts herein shown and de-- scribed,except'as I may be limited by the terms of the appended claims, it beingobvious that various changes OPiLdClltiOIlS may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention;- i

1. An atomizer'forinterna-l combustion engines, embodying a sleeve openat both ends and provided at one end with a head portion of largerdiameter than the sleeve,

, said head portion terminatingin a beveled annular seating face. havingradial slitsformed therein, and said head portion having diagonallyarranged intersecting grooves formed in the periphery thereof, some ofwhich grooves intersect the said radial slits. 2. An atomizer forinternal combustion engines, comprising a hollow plug having a beveledvalve seat and an outlet opening at its lower end, said plug beingprovided with means for removably attaching the same for the end of theplug, said valve having a stem extending longitudinally through thesleeve with a portion. thereof projecting: beyond the upper end of thesleeve.

3. In combination with the head of an engine cylinder having a boretherethrough provided at its lower end with a conical seating face, ahollow plug having an opening at its lower end, said plug removablyfitted in said bore and having a seating face making a ground jointconnection with the corresponding seating face in the bore, an atomizersleeve open at both ends removably I fitted in said plug and provided atone end with a head portion of larger diameter than. the sleeve,terminating in a beveled annular seating face having radial slits formedthere-- in, and said head portion having diagonally arrangedintersecting grooves formed in the periphery thereof, some of whichgrooves intersect the said radial slits, and a valve normally closingthe .outlet opening in. the plug, said valve having -a stem extendinglongitudinally through the sleeve with a pore tion thereof'extendingbeyond the upper end of the sleeve.

4.. Incombination with the'head of an engine cylinder having a borethere'through,

- said bore terminating at its lower end in a conicalseating face, ahollow plug having a conical seating end making a ground jointconnection with said seating face, and said plug having an outletopening in its lower end, an atomizer sleeve removably fitted in saidplug and having an enlarged'head near v one end in the periphery ofwhich is formed a'plurality of diagonally arrangedintersecting wayscommunicating withsaid opening and constituting interrupted passages forfuel oil, and a valve having a stem extend-- ing longitudinally throughthe sleeve with a portion projecting beyond the upperend 'thereof, saidvalve normally closing the out .let opening in the plug.

5. In combination'with the head of an engine cylinder having aboretherethrough, a hollow plug mounted in said bore,- said plug havingan outlet opening at its lower end, means for removably attaching theplug to the head of .the engine cylinder, a sleeve open at both endsremovably mounted in said plug, said sleeve being of less diameter thanthe opening in the plug to provide an annular chamber around the sleeve,and said sleeve having an enlarged head portion at one end, theperiphery of which is provided with diagonally arranged intersectinggrooves forming interrupted oil passages leading.

from said chamber to said outlet opening, and said plug having separateoil and. air

passages leading to said annular chamber,- and a valvewith the sleevenormally closing the outlet opening in the plug, said valve having astem extending longitudinally through the sleeve.

6. The combination with the head of. an engine cylinder having a boretherethrough, a hollow plug rem'ovably mounted in said bore and providedwith an outlet opening in 4 its lower end, an atomizersleeve removablymounted in said plug and having oil pas:

. sages communicating with said outlet opening, a valve normally closingsaid opening and having a stem reciprocally mounted in the sleeve, saidstem having a transverse slot through its upper end, an actuating leverfor the valve passing through said slot, a removable pin 35, interposedbetween'said lever and a wall of 'the slot in the stem, and.

a spring normally acting on the upper end of the stem for urgingthevalve toward its seat.

7. In combination'with the atomizer of an internal combustion enginehaving a fuel oil supply pipe leading thereto, a check valve in saidsupply pipe, and a liduid seal adjacent said check valve andintermediate the latter and the atomizer.

8. Incombination with the atomizer of an internal combustion enginehaving an oil supply pipe leading thereto, a fitting embodying acombined check valve and trap associated with said supply pipe, the.said fitting being directly connected to apart of the atomizer.

9. In combination with the atomizer of an internal combustion enginehaving-- aii'oil supply pipe and. an air supplypijgie leading Intestimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

Witnesses H. D. MA TEsoN, G.' W. CARPENTER.

LEONARD B. HARRIS.

